KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 20): Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), which is seeking to deploy robotics technology to inspect unmanned production operations, has completed a test of canine robot ANYmal C on one of its offshore platforms, oil and gas (O&G) news portals reported.

Petronas plans to use the robot from Swiss technology player ANYbotics to improve work flows with better data tagging and automatic inspection reporting, according to Energy Voice.

It said ANYbotics, which co-developed the robot with Petronas, will offer it to the global market for use in environments with high risk of explosions.

“The pair are targeting commercial use of the ANYmal canine robot in potentially explosive environments by 2022,” the portal said.

According to Upstream, after successful onshore functionality testing, Petronas’ robotics team performed a multi-week deployment of the robot on the Dulang B platform, located 170km offshore Kerteh, Terengganu.

Complex operations of O&G facilities require continuous monitoring and frequent inspections to enable high availability and safety, it noted.

“Our motivation is to deploy robotic solutions to reduce HSE (health, safety and environment) risks and operating expenditure by minimising offshore workforce deployment and logistics,” Upstream quoted Fauzy Omar Basheer Othman, the head of Petronas’ facilities of future division, as saying.

“The offshore test validated ANYmal’s performance under adverse conditions, including slippery terrain, strong winds, and operations in day and night,” added Iskandar A Mahmood, the manager for robotics at Petronas.

Energy Voice noted that O&G sites are demanding environments that include steep industrial stairs, and exposed to extreme weather conditions.

Built on the mobility of four legs, the ANYmal robot has proven its capability to navigate challenging terrain safely, it said.

“Our plants are built for humans and often provide only little space for general passages. We have been testing ANYmal in various challenging situations and are impressed by its versatile mobility that doesn’t require us to make any adaptation to our facilities,” it added, quoting Petronas.